Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A small number of departmental staff are attached to UK embassies and high commissions in certain countries. Their main task is to collect information for claims to certain UK benefits and carry out related duties on behalf of the Department. They will, in the course of their work, hold some personal data for some individuals.
	Other than this no significant personal data in respect of customers or employees, for which the Department is responsible, is processed or stored overseas.

New Deal Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants have taken part in the  (a) New Deal for Young People,  (b) New Deal 25 Plus,  (c) New Deal 50 Plus,  (d) New Deal for Lone Parents,  (e) New Deal for Disabled People and  (f) New Deal for Partners in each month since each such programme was established.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 29 February 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal participants (cumulative) 
			  Month  New deal for young people  New deal 25 plus  New deal 50 plus  New deal for lone parents  New deal for partners  New deal for disabled people 
			  1998   
			 July 102,490 — — — — — 
			 August 112,800 — — — — — 
			 September 120,060 — — — — — 
			 October 126,100 — — — — — 
			 November 129,950 — — 10,820 — — 
			 December 133,140 — — 13,070 — — 
			
			  1999   
			 January 138,510 — — 19,390 — — 
			 February 141,780 — — 27,240 — — 
			 March 144,550 — — 35,560 — — 
			 April 145,580  — 39,990 — — 
			 May 145,750 — — 42,490 — — 
			 June 144,440 — — 43,680 — — 
			 July 146,020 — — 45,350 — — 
			 August 143,590 — — 46,350 — — 
			 September 138,090 — — 50,220 — — 
			 October 131,400 — — 54,770 — — 
			 November 126,840 — — 56,200 — — 
			 December 127,740 — — 51,650 — — 
			
			  2000   
			 January 129,520 — — 53,230 — — 
			 February 128,780 — — 56,700 — — 
			 March 128,410 — — 60,410 — — 
			 April 127,150 — — 61,750 — — 
			 May 126,170 — — 62,800 — — 
			 June 122,610 — — 63,450 — — 
			 July 122,050 — — 63,430 — — 
			 August 119,420 — — 62,820 — — 
			 September 111,480 — — 65,580 — — 
			 October 106,500 — — 65,930 — — 
			 November 103,160 — — 64,530 — — 
			 December 103,890 — — 60,670 — — 
			
			  2001   
			 January 105,900 — — 61,580 — — 
			 February 104,750 — — 62,570 — — 
			 March 103,630 1,550 — 63,390 — — 
			 April 103,040 10,580 — 61,760 — — 
			 May 102,400 18,940 — 60,890 — — 
			 June 99,640 27,520 — 60,670 — — 
			 July 100,310 33,610 — 60,460 — 1,530 
			 August 98,030 40,660 — 60,530 — 2,880 
			 September 94,830 45,230 — 62,130 — 3,810 
			 October 91,710 48,870 — 60,480 — 4,830 
			 November 89,520 53,330 — 61,220 — 6,570 
			 December 90,650 56,420 — 59,250 — 7,410 
			
			  2002   
			 January 92,560 57,550 — 61,790 — 8,800 
			 February 94,480 57,870 — 65,100 — 10,680 
			 March 96,290 58,220 — 68,930 — 13,080 
			 April 97,290 58,430 — 69,760 — 15,320 
			 May 98,230 59,100 — 72,920 — 18,190 
			 June 96,520 59,020 — 74,670 — 20,010 
			 July 97,860 59,020 — 76,100 — 22,250 
			 August 96,240 58,990 — 76,350 — 24,770 
			 September 92,650 58,240 — 81,450 — 27,120 
			 October 90,080 62,080 — 82,430 — 29,500 
			 November 87,680 64,510 — 81,460 — 32,070 
			 December 89,020 65,880 — 77,450 — 32,960 
			
			  2003   
			 January 92,620 65,960 — 79,070 — 34,950 
			 February 93,040 65,310 — 80,720 — 37,250 
			 March 94,620 64,390 — 81,830 — 39,550 
			 April 94,610 64,410 — 82,170 — 41,110 
			 May 95,340 64,220 — 82,600 — 42,890 
			 June 94,560 63,160 — 84,250 — 45,010 
			 July 96,620 62,160 — 84,550 — 47,260 
			 August 95,910 61,270 — 84,700 — 49,300 
			 September 92,880 60,160 — 88,170 — 51,630 
			 October 89,210 59,110 — 90,300 — 53,980 
			 November 87,580 58,150 — 89,900 — 55,440 
			 December 88,460 58,150 — 85,800 — 56,100 
			
			  2004   
			 January 90,750 57,350 4,040 86,960 — 57,960 
			 February 90,590 56,620 7,140 89,030 — 60,140 
			 March 90,980 55,560 10,580 89,890 — 62,540 
			 April 90,620 54,910 13,100 88,720 90 65,450 
			 May 90,260 54,850 15,460 87,610 320 68,680 
			 June 88,100 54,570 17,730 85,610 470 71,630 
			 July 88,170 54,610 20,620 82,540 680 75,870 
			 August 86,820 55,440 23,140 80,300 840 78,840 
			 September 83,160 55,210 25,390 80,260 1,010 82,140 
			 October 79,210 54,810 28,520 80,940 1,240 85,930 
			 November 78,020 54,910 30,520 79,160 1,440 88,680 
			 December 79,150 55,850 32,360 72,580 1,530 89,820 
			
			  2005   
			 January 80,950 55,730 34,180 73,900 1,680 92,310 
			 February 81,870 55,820 36,200 74,520 1,840 95,480 
			 March 82,990 55,200 37,950 73,930 2,010 98,210 
			 April 84,380 54,270 39,880 72,900 2,210 101,720 
			 May 85,240 53,810 41,390 70,620 2,310 104,240 
			 June 83,960 53,310 42,660 68,630 2,400 106,440 
			 July 86,610 52,160 44,290 66,980 2,490 109,570 
			 August 87,160 51,600 45,460 65,680 2,480 112,330 
			 September 84,600 50,350 46,840 68,230 2,580 116,210 
			 October 82,860 49,420 47,950 68,250 2,610 119,380 
			 November 82,180 48,930 49,280 67,210 2,650 122,450 
			 December 84,360 49,260 50,350 62,570 2,650 123,720 
			
			  2006   
			 January 87,750 49,070 51,300 63,340 2,690 126,920 
			 February 89,420 49,270 52,150 64,470 2,790 130,840 
			 March 92,780 49,190 53,150 63,990 2,930 134,990 
			 April 94,570 49,250 53,680 61,420 2,990 138,080 
			 May 96,760 49,790 54,510 59,290 3,050 141,160 
			 June 96,090 50,070 55,280 57,870 3,090 144,570 
			 July 98,400 50,480 55,880 55,880 3,120 148,050 
			 August 98,320 51,350 56,350 54,090 3,170 152,080 
			 September 93,830 51,830 56,900 54,100 3,230 157,150 
			 October 90,970 53,130 57,190 53,560 3,290 161,210 
			 November 89,040 54,580 57,610 52,970 3,340 164,730 
			 December 89,930 56,990 57,870 50,290 3,420 167,050 
			
			  2007   
			 January 92,850 58,190 58,400 53,010 3,490 171,300 
			 February 92,520 59,290 58,900 57,640 3,620 175,270 
			 March 93,350 59,760 59,240 60,950 3,750 179,840 
			 April 91,570 59,990 59,460 61,350 3,790 183,270 
			 May 90,120 60,340 59,490 64,410 3,820 186,170 
			  Notes: 1. Programme start dates are: New Deal for Young People: April 1998 (piloted from January 1998); New Deal 25 plus: July 1998; New Deal for Lone Parents: October 1998; New Deal for Partners: April 1999; New Deal 50 plus: April 2000; New Deal for Disabled People: July 2001. 2. Participant information for each new deal is only available from the dates given in the table. 3. Data is rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP Information Directorate

Regional Development Agencies: Pay

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was paid in bonuses to staff of each regional development agency in England in each year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: As non-departmental public bodies, each RDA operates bonus schemes specific to their own organisations. These are operated in line with published guidance on public sector pay and bonuses.
	Bonuses are non-consolidated payments that are awarded to staff based on performance either at an individual, team or organisational level. Bonus payments are re-earnable and do not have associated future costs.
	Since the RDAs were set up, bonus schemes have from time to time been revised within individual agencies to reflect their increased delivery responsibilities and the need to achieve value for money and reduce cost increases where possible.
	The following table shows annual bonuses paid to staff of each RDA.
	
		
			  £000 
			  RDAs  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 129 189 82 121 149 
			 EEDA 99 106 155 154 169 
			 EMDA 68 99 77 64 79 
			 LDA(1) n/a n/a 132 190 156 
			 NWDA(2) 310 493 655 660 736 
			 ONE 111 124 118 148 183 
			 SEEDA(3) n/a n/a 173 244 190 
			 SWRDA 163 171 225 261 314 
			 YF 100 198 255 309 260 
			 (1) LDA did not award performance bonuses to staff before 2005. (2) In 2001, NWDA introduced a pay strategy which linked all pay (consolidated and non-consolidated) to individual performance. The pay strategy does not allow for automatic year on year pay progression or cost of living increases for staff. (3) Figures are not available before 2003-04 as the payroll information has been archived. The requested information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Birds of Prey: Genetics

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what species were chosen for his Department's research project on DNA profiling of birds of prey using fluorescent multiplexing initiated in 2004; what criteria were used to choose the species; what the costs to his Department were of the project; what the date of completion of the project was; and what the purpose of the project was.

Joan Ruddock: The purpose of the project was to develop fluorescent multiplexes for the golden eagle, goshawk, gyr falcon, merlin, peregrine falcon and saker falcon. The development and implementation of a fluorescent multiplex system would allow the construction of databases and allow comparisons between any sampled individuals avoiding the need to re-test them. The system should facilitate compliance checking and assist enforcement efforts.
	The species were chosen to ensure that they were the most appropriate for the project, based on previous research into DMA forensic techniques involving birds of prey.
	The cost to DEFRA of the project was £143,192. The work was completed in November 2006 and the final report will be published in an appropriate scientific journal shortly.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing proposals to reduce the environmental impact of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs offices at Peaseholme Green, York.

Jonathan R Shaw: The driver for the project at Peaseholme Green is primarily to increase occupancy capacity to enable the Department to achieve greater efficiencies in office utilisation which in itself will contribute to reducing the Department's environmental impact. All government major refurbishments and new builds are required to achieve BREEAM Excellent accreditation.
	DEFRA approach capital projects holistically, which includes sustainable construction, energy and water efficiency, achieving BREEAM Excellent while giving value for money to the Exchequer. This approach is supported by the reference to two of its major projects in the National Audit Office's report dated April 2007 titled 'Building for the future: Sustainable construction and refurbishment on the government estate' where the NAO cite them as good examples.
	The construction works at Kings Pool are being undertaken in an industry leading way, minimising waste output while maximising the recycling of any waste materials produced. A number of low and zero carbon technologies are also being introduced to the site including solar thermal hot water, rain water harvesting and ultra low NOx gas fired boilers. These technologies combined with a state of the art building management system have been designed to help the building user make the most efficient use of the new facilities, and reduce the environmental impact of the site.
	Using its experience in refurbishing office buildings, achieving BREEAM Excellent, reducing energy and water consumption, selecting sustainable materials and adopting sustainable construction methods, DEFRA estimate that the extra-over cost of additional sustainable technologies incorporated into the works is around £485,000 inclusive of VAT, which equates to 2.9 per cent. of the capital construction costs, which were budgeted at £16.9 million inclusive of VAT.
	For comparison, BRE supported documentation indicate that in a new build naturally ventilated building a BREEAM Excellent rating costs between 2.5 per cent. and 3.4 per cent. of the capital cost; to achieve this in a major refurbishment such as that being undertaken at Kings Pool, we would anticipate this figure being higher.

Heating: EC Law

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what matters were  (a) discussed and  (b) agreed at the consultation forum on boilers and water heaters in respect of implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive held on 29 February; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Consultation Forum meetings are an opportunity for the European Commission to discuss their proposals for an implementing measure under the Framework Directive for the eco design of Energy using Products (EuP) with member state representatives and stakeholders. The Consultation Forum is not a decision making body. The meetings are a first public discussion of the proposals, and are not intended to reach agreement.
	At the meeting on 29 February, member states and industry representatives gave initial reactions to the proposals contained in the Commission's Working Document issued on 31 January.
	The formal minutes of the meeting will be available on the Commission's website in due course.

Marine and Fisheries Agency: Manpower

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there are plans for staff reductions at the Marine and Fisheries Agency in the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine and Fisheries Agency has no plans at present to reduce staff numbers over the next three financial years. MFA have already achieved headcount targets and will continue to review staffing levels in order to meet its business objectives and any wider departmental efficiency requirements.

Sustainable Development: Flood Control

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on inclusion of sustainable urban drainage systems in new housing or community developments; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such systems.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has received a range of representations on the inclusion of sustainable drainage systems in new housing or community developments. We expect to receive more during the course of the consultation on Surface Water Drainage, which was recently published alongside the Government's water strategy, Future Water'.
	As part of the impact assessment to accompany the current consultation on Surface Water Drainage, DEFRA has made a quantitative assessment of the benefits of implementing sustainable drainage systems in relation to reducing localised flooding. The benefits to water quality are also outlined in the impact assessment but have not yet been quantified.

Debt Collection: Standards

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who in her Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Standards for Enforcement Agents by local authorities; what compliance checks were undertaken in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 965-6W.

Fire Prevention

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in England received home fire safety advice in 2007 in the most recent year for which figures are most recently available, broken down by fire authority.

Parmjit Dhanda: For the year ending September 2007 (the most recent information available) fire and rescue services in England carried out 555,253 home fire risk checks. This is broken down by fire and rescue authority area in the following table:
	
		
			  Fire and rescue authority  Home fire risk checks undertaken 
			 Avon 2,872 
			 Bedfordshire/Luton 3,971 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,123 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,666 
			 Cheshire 38,281 
			 Cleveland 22,469 
			 Cornwall 20,635 
			 Cumbria 11,340 
			 Derbyshire 5,994 
			 Devon(1) 2,051 
			 Devon and Somerset(1) 3,380 
			 Dorset 2,312 
			 Durham 11,166 
			 East Sussex 8,574 
			 Essex 3,513 
			 Greater Manchester 21,491 
			 Gloucestershire 2,110 
			 Hampshire 9,548 
			 Hereford 2,632 
			 Hertfordshire 3,328 
			 Humber 14,110 
			 Isle of Stilly 34 
			 Isle of Wight 2,144 
			 Kent 7,173 
			 Lancashire 39,614 
			 Leicestershire 10,401 
			 Lincoln 1,633 
			 London 44,813 
			 Merseyside 31,657 
			 Norfolk 1,908 
			 Northamptonshire 2,845 
			 Northumberland 3,765 
			 North Yorkshire 5,899 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,518 
			 Oxfordshire 3,118 
			 Royal Berkshire 998 
			 Shropshire 31,540 
			 Somerset(1) 663 
			 South Yorkshire 14,294 
			 Staffordshire 13,760 
			 Suffolk 1,571 
			 Surrey 3,539 
			 Tyne and Wear 21,357 
			 Warwickshire 2,284 
			 West Midlands 40,920 
			 West Sussex 5,884 
			 West Yorkshire 59,850 
			 Wiltshire 1,505 
			   
			 Total 555,253 
			 (1) Devon and Somerset fire authorities merged in April 2007. The data prior to April 2007 are given separately.

Housing: Migration

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what ways her Department is improving the information available on migrants and housing; and how she plans to make this information available  (a) locally and  (b) nationally.

Iain Wright: The Department collects information in the Survey of English Housing on the nationality of the main householder and, for those born outside the UK, the year of arrival in the UK. This survey ends in April 2008 and is being replaced by a similar survey. The new survey will include a set of core questions covering nationality, country of birth and year of arrival for all members of every household interviewed for the survey. This will provide a more robust picture on migrants and housing than is currently available.
	Findings from the 2007-08 Survey of English Housing will be available from end-2008. The first findings from the new English Housing Survey will be available from end-2009.
	Information on social lettings is collected by St. Andrew's university on behalf of the Housing Corporation and the Department through the Continuous Recording of Lettings (CORE). This includes information on the characteristics of new tenants, including nationality. Information from CORE is published on the CORE website www.core.ac.uk. The Department is working with St. Andrew's university to improve the participation of local authorities in CORE.
	We are also working with local authorities to provide better information on numbers of homelessness acceptances for foreign nationals on the P1E statutory homelessness form.
	The Department has also published revised 2004-based household projections. These are linked to the Office for National Statistics' revised sub-national population projections, that used an improved methodology for estimating the distribution of international migration across England.

Regional Ministers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of regional Ministers against their stated objectives; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: While no formal assessment has yet been made of their effectiveness. Regional Ministers have been actively pursuing those roles set out for them in the Governance of Britain Green Paper published in July 2007. They have helped ensure that the development and delivery of Government policy takes account of the key issues facing their regions, both by engaging with a wide range of regional partners in meetings and dedicated visits and by representing their regions within Government. Regional Ministers have also been involved in the appointment of Regional Development Agency chairs and boards, while their relation to forthcoming regional committees will be determined over the coming months following the Modernisation Committee's inquiry into regional accountability.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the factors to which local planning authorities and regional planning bodies must have regard as set out in paragraph 33 of Planning Policy Statement 3 (Housing), what the  (a) remit and  (b) scope is of her Department's study of the level of housing development in the West Midlands; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: My noble friend Baroness Andrews has asked the Government office for the West Midlands (GOWM) to commission further work to inform the Examination in Public of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Phase (RSS) 2 revision. This study will look at options which could deliver higher housing numbers with a view to improving affordability within the region. The study will be submitted as evidence to the independent panel at the Examination in Public of the Phase 2 RSS revision for testing.
	The scope of the study, as stated in the brief for the work, is to develop and appraise alternative options for accommodating housing and associated growth above the levels in the submitted draft Phase 2 RSS Revision. The options should be capable of delivering the levels of housing suggested in the initial National Housing and Planning Advice Unit response to the Housing Green Paper but should maintain as many of the key principles of the RSS as possible.

Visits: Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what visits the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber has made to each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber since appointment; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Since her appointment on 25 January 2008, my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber (Caroline Flint) has visited the constituencies listed as follows.
	Due to the role of regional Minister, which involves regional or sub-regional meetings, the Minister may not have visited a constituency per se, but attended a meeting held in that area.
	
		
			  The hon. Member for Doncaster, Central from 27 January to 6 March 2008 
			  Constituency  Number of visits 
			 Doncaster. Central 1 
			 City of York 2 
			 Leeds. Central 4 
			 Morley and Rothwell 1 
			 Wakefield 1 
			 Wentworth 1 
			 Bradford. West 1 
			 Bradford. North 1 
		
	
	
		
			  The hon. Member for Don Valley from 2 July 2007 to 26 January 2008 
			  Constituency  Number of visits 
			 Barnsley, Central 1 
			 Bradford, West 1 
			 City of York 1 
			 Don Valley 4 
			 Doncaster, Central 2 
			 Doncaster, North 1 
			 Hull, North 2 
			 Hull, West and Hessle 1 
			 Leeds, Central 3 
			 Rydale 1 
			 Scarborough and Whitby 1 
			 Wakefield 2

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of  (a) male and  (b) female binge drinkers according to the definition of binge drinking used in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.

Jacqui Smith: I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Dawn Primarolo) on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 943W.

Immigrants: Domestic Violence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has provided to  (a) local authorities and  (b) voluntary agencies on women whose insecure immigration status is being assessed on the no recourse to public funds rule in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; if she will bring forward proposals to amend the Act to provide funding for such women; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: In February 2006, guidance and a factsheet were issued to all local authority chief executives alerting them to the key issues experienced by these women and setting out how they can be helped through other legislative processes.
	We have also commissioned the development of a step-by-step guide for women in black and minority ethnic communities who are victims of domestic violence. It will provide practical advice on how victims, and agencies supporting victims, can protect themselves and their children. This will be published in spring 2008.
	Soon we will be announcing a new scheme where victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds may be able to have their housing and living costs met linked to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) criteria. The proposals under the new scheme will strengthen the way in which domestic violence cases are considered enabling those victims who are vulnerable to access further support.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) 18 to 25 and  (c) 25 to 29 were (i) admitted as an in-patient or (ii) treated as an out-patient with alcohol poisoning in hospitals in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. Data on the reasons for out-patient attendances is not collected centrally. The following table shows the total finished admissions to providers in Lancashire in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis of alcohol poisoning at the start of his/her stay—for under 18, 18 to 24 and 25 to 29 in the years 2004-05 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  National health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the English NHS 
			   Lancashire providers 
			   Under 18  18 to 24  25 to 29 
			 2006-07 86 220 146 
			 2005-06 118 206 98 
			 2004-05 108 178 106 
			  Notes:  Lancashire Providers Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) has supplied provider data using: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS FT East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust Calderstones NHS Trust Lancashire Care NHS Trust  Finished admission episodes (FAE) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  All Diagnoses count of Mentions These figures represent a count of all mentions of a diagnosis in any of the 14 diagnosis fields in the HES data set. Therefore, if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field during an episode, all diagnoses are counted.  ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes Used: T51: Toxic effect of Alcohol  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Genetics: Insurance

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the concordat and moratorium of genetics and insurance.

Dawn Primarolo: The concordat and moratorium on genetics and insurance was announced in a written ministerial statement given by the former Secretary of State for Health (John Reid) on 14 March 2005,  Official Report, column 5WS. It is a high level agreement between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of predictive genetic test results for insurance purposes.
	The moratorium on insurers' use of predictive genetic test dating from 1 November 2001 was extended by five years until 1 November 2011.

Hearing Impaired: Standards

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for patients with hearing and balance disorders to receive treatment in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not currently collect this data.
	From April 2008, the Department will collect information on waits for direct access audiology treatment for patients who are referred directly to audiologists or clinical scientists in audiological medicine. Patients referred for surgical or medical consultant-led care are already covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) C. difficile infection in (i) England and (ii) each English region resulted in death in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The requested information on the percentage of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile) cases which lead to death is not available as the surveillance system does not record outcomes.
	The total number of reports of  C. difficile infection and MRSA bacteraemia for England are collected via the mandatory surveillance system operated for the Department by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). This information is available in the Library and also on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/Mandatory_ Results.htm
	The Office for National Statistics publishes analyses of deaths in England and Wales where MRSA or  C. difficile is mentioned on the death certificate but these data do not indicate if the infection was acquired in hospital or elsewhere. The most recent data is published in "Health Statistics Quarterly 37" spring 2008:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ37.pdf

Prostate Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 23 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1202W, to the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland), on prostate cancer, at which sites focusing on cancer information prescriptions were trialled; what the outcomes of such trials were; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There are four information prescription pilots that provide cancer information; County Durham Primary Care Trust working with Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust working with Macmillan Cancer Support, CancerBackup and Cancer UK, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust working with the Mid Trent Cancer Network and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust working with South West London Cancer Network and Cancer Backup.
	These pilots are among 20 information prescription pilots that have developed and delivered information prescriptions in different ways over the past year. A full evaluation report of all the information prescription pilots will be published in spring 2008.

Specialist Palliative and Neurological Care: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on supportive and palliative care has been fully implemented in Shipley constituency.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCTs, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care, based on assessments of local needs and priorities. The NHS has been required to set out action plans to achieve compliance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations on supportive and palliative care. Implementation is being monitored by strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Information on the rate of progress locally can be obtained through Yorkshire and the Humber SHA.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have taken place between representatives of the Government and the Cuban government in the last two years; and whether he plans to meet the new President of that country.

Meg Munn: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meet regularly with their counterparts both in the Cuban Government in Havana and Cuban embassy in London. In addition my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ian McCartney), met Cuban Minister of Trade, Antonio Carricarte on 30 April 2007. I met with the Cuban Inter-Parliamentary Union delegation, headed by Jamie Crombert, on 13 November 2007. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Eumelio Caballero is due to visit the UK next month. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to meet the new Cuban President.

Gujarat: Homicide

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department has continued to offer the assistance of UK police in the investigation of the deaths of the two members of the family of Mr. Yusuf Dawood of Huntingdon in Gujarat in 2002;
	(2)  whether his Department is requesting further information on the progress of the case in India against the people accused of the deaths of the two members of Mr. Yusuf Dawood's family in Gujarat in 2002.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	In our regular contacts with the Indian authorities we have continued to offer the assistance of UK police in the investigation of the tragic deaths of two members of the Dawood family in the inter-communal riots in Gujurat in 2002. We have also asked to be kept updated on the progress of the case against those who have been arrested in connection with the incident. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East, Kim Howells, raised both of these issues directly with the Indian authorities during his visit to India in May 2007. My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, subsequently wrote to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in July 2007. Our deputy high commissioner in New Delhi followed this up during a call on the Ministry of External Affairs in August 2007 and wrote a further letter in November 2007. We have yet to receive any response from the Indian authorities to any of these letters but we will continue to press for one.

Iran: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations about derogatory statements made by the President of Iran about the State of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government have consistently condemned the Iranian President's inflammatory comments about the State of Israel and his offensive statements about the Holocaust. President Ahmadinejad's approach towards Israel can only damage international confidence that Iran is willing to act as a respectable member of the international community.
	Most recently, on 25 February, the EU presidency, with strong UK support, issued a statement condemning the recent anti-Israeli comments made by Iranian leaders. The statement called on Iran to refrain from all threats towards other states, to support the need for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the search for lasting peace between Iran and its neighbours. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary commented publicly:
	"I have always said that Iran is a cultured and educated country with the potential to be a key player in a key region of the world. Foreign Minister Mottaki has written in the Guardian about his country's commitments to stability. But recent appalling comments about Israel are a recipe for instability. On 31 January President Ahmadinejad said
	"the mighty hands of the Palestinian people will bring about annihilation of the Zionist regime".
	The Commander in Chief of the IRCG said:
	"In the near future we must see the annihilation of the cancerous tumour of the Israeli occupation by the mighty force of the Hezbollah Ummah fighters".
	This rhetoric is damaging to the Middle East and damaging to Iran. The people deserve better than their leaders."

Rendition

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department to meet the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to discuss issues related to rendition; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: On 5 March my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, spoke to Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Minister encouraged Mr. Nowak to provide the Government with any evidence he may have regarding allegations that detainees may have been held on Diego Garcia between 2002 and 2003.

Departmental Absenteeism

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the absence rate among his Department's staff was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: DIUS was created by Machinery elements of the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
	There are records of average working days lost per employee due to illness for the period from July to December 2007, DIUS continues to rely for this information on the computer systems of the departments from which it transferred staff at its inception. These show average working days lost per employee in the six month period of 2.7 for ex-DTI employees and 4.1 for ex-DfES employees.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to staff in his Department or its predecessor were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created by the Prime Minister on 28 June 2007,
	 (a) Zero
	 (b) Zero
	 (c) Zero

Higher Education: International Cooperation

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on improving higher education links with  (a) Vietnam,  (b) the People's Republic of China,  (c) the Republic of South Africa and  (d) Cuba; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Secretary of State regularly meets the Foreign Secretary and discusses a range of issues including higher education links between England/UK and other countries. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has lead responsibility for the Prime Minister's Initiative for international education (PMI) which seeks to maintain the Unite Kingdom's position as a leader in international education. One of the major elements of the PMI is about enhancing and improving collaboration between UK educational institutions and those abroad and higher education plays a key role in this. China and Vietnam are priorities countries for PMI. I have today signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with my counterpart from Vietnam, the Vice Minister of Education and Training, The MoC signing reconfirms the UK Government's support for education co-operation with Vietnam.
	The Department also supports a number of programmes to encourage collaboration between the UK and strategic partner countries These include the development of higher education links with China and South Africa.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which student loans cover university accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Maintenance loans are available to eligible full-time students on courses of higher education to help them cover their general living costs. However, we do not specify how students should spend their loans.
	The Department undertakes a Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) periodically. This survey provides information about patterns of student income and expenditure, including average accommodation costs, for an academic year, and also the level of support that students receive by way of loans. The last published report covered the 2004/05 academic year, and research is currently in the field for 2007/08, which will report in 2009.
	The maximum amounts of loan available are uprated each year in line with forecast inflation; However, we departed from our usual practice during the public debate on the new package of student support for 2006/07 that took place during the time that the 2004 Higher Education Bill was passing through Parliament. We adjusted the maximum loan amounts for the 2008/07 academic year in order to match the median of students' basic living costs, as established by the 2002/03 SIES. For subsequent academic years up to and including 2009/10, we have reverted to the usual practice of uprating the maximum loan amounts in line with forecast inflation.

Vocational Training

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the signatories to the Skills Pledge.

Bill Rammell: Latest data from the Learning and Skills Council indicates that as at the end of January 2008 there were 1,239 organisations that had made the Skills Pledge. I am placing a copy of the information in the Libraries of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Dundee

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the City of Dundee by HM Revenue and Customs, and its predecessors, in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed in Dundee by HM Revenue and Customs (previously Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) since 2000 is as follows.
	
		
			  As at 1 April:  FTE 
			 2000 259 
			 2001 257 
			 2002 234 
			 2003 737 
			 2004 872 
			 2005 853 
			 2006 855 
			 2007 857 
		
	
	Data before 2000 is not available.

Tax Credits Office

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 1,350 new posts created in the Tax Credits Office in 2006-07 have been filled; and how many of these new positions deal directly with  (a) applications for and  (b) overpayments of tax credits before 2006-07.

Jane Kennedy: Staffing numbers related to work on tax credits vary according to work load and season. In 2006-07, staff levels rose to 10,210, an increase of 1,370 on the previous year. Staff work flexibly in a number of different areas, including the tax credits helpline, tax credits office, compliance, and debt management.

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2099W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, what types of data are sent by  (a) fax,  (b) email and  (c) CD/DVD.

Jane Kennedy: Faxes are used to send ad hoc copies of general correspondence and data with a protective marking no higher than 'Protect'.
	General correspondence, performance monitoring reports and data with a protective marking no higher than 'Restricted' are sent by email.
	Encrypted core business data, where data sharing is permitted under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, including non-domestic rating list and summary valuation data are sent by CD/DVD.
	The Valuation Office Agency follows HMRC operating standards for the handling of data.

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2099W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, in how many cases in the last 36 months a CD/DVD sent by post or courier has been lost.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency is not aware that it has lost any CD/DVDs sent by post or courier in the last 36 months.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overpayment cases were identified for  (a) working tax credit and  (b) child tax credit in each financial year since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of awards with an overpayment of tax credits in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 is produced in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments In." for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
	HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Licensing Laws

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to bring forward amendments to the licensing laws; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The evaluation of the Licensing Act 2003, published on 4 March, reveals a mixed picture. Our main conclusion is that people are using the freedoms but people are not sufficiently using the considerable powers granted by the Act to tackle problems, and that there is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and crack down on irresponsible behaviour.
	We have announced measures to address problems including better use of the powers in the Act, including tough conditions or withdrawal of licences, but also introducing new initiatives to tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour. We will consider how we will take these proposals forward once a summit of police and local authorities has been held.

Conferences

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was to his Department of hiring the Emirates Stadium for the first seminar of the Convergence Think Tank on 7 February.

Andy Burnham: The total cost of the first Convergence Think Tank seminar at the Emirates Stadium on 7 February 2008 was £13,13633. The cost was met by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which has joint responsibility for the Convergence Think Tank.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect his Department's recruitment policy.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Recruitment to the civil service on the grounds of nationality is statutorily based. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2206-207W.

Gambling: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2171W, on gambling licences, how many applications for premises' licences were  (a) received,  (b) withdrawn,  (c) declined and  (d) revoked in each year since April 2005, broken down by region.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No regional breakdown is available for the information requested. Under the Gaming Act 1968 licensed operators were required to renew their gaming premises licence with the local licensing body each year. In addition, operators with a new certificate of consent from the Gambling Commission could apply for a new gaming premises licence.
	The following table shows the figures for new applications for bingo gaming premises licences to local licensing bodies but does not show details of any licences granted in respect of applications for extensions to, or substitutes for, existing premises. Local licensing bodies did not possess powers of revocation under the Gaming Act 1968.
	
		
			  Bingo applications  Received  Withdrawn  Declined 
			 1 April 2005 to March 31 2006 10 2 1 
			 1 April 2006 to March 31 2007 10 1 0 
			 1 April 2007 to March 1 2008 4 1 0 
		
	
	Not all of the equivalent figures for casino gaming premises licences under the Gaming Act 1968 were collated centrally but, between 1 April 2005 and 1 March 2008, 36 applications for additional casino gaming licences were granted by local licensing bodies under the Gaming Act 1968. This figure does not include details of any licences granted in respect of applications for extensions to, or substitutes for, existing premises.
	Between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006, the 13 additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Aberdeen, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Leeds, London (two), Nottingham, Reading, Stockton on Tees, Swansea, Warley (Oldbury).
	Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007, the 14 additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Aberdeen, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow (three), Great Yarmouth, Kingston upon Hull, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Sheffield and Southend-on-Sea.
	Between 1 April 2007 and 1 March 2008, nine additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Bournemouth, Bradford, Edinburgh, Huddersfield, London, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield and Wolverhampton.
	Figures by region for premises licences under the 2005 Act, which came into effect on 1 September 2007, are not yet available. Licensing authorities are responsible for considering, issuing and revoking gambling premises licences under the 2005 Act. Not all authorities have completed their returns to the Gambling Commission, which will be publishing figures on the number of premises licences later in 2008.

Regional Cultural Consortiums: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department provided to each of the regional cultural consortia in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: My Department has provided the following funding to each of the regional cultural consortiums in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Regional cultural consortiums outturn 
			  £000 
			   Outturn  Plans 
			  Regional cultural consortium  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 Living East 180 209 233 215 226 
			   
			 Culture South East 205 209 224 215 226 
			   
			 Culture North East 197 210 221 215 219 
			   
			 Culture North West 208 209 223 215 226 
			   
			 Yorkshire Culture 208 209 221 215 226 
			   
			 Culture East Midlands 141 210 236 215 265 
			 Invest to save, creating cultural opportunity in sustainable communities — — — 203 285 
			   
			 Culture South West 206 209 222 215 226 
			   
			 Culture West Midlands 223 209 261 215 221 
			 (1) Following winter supplementary estimate.

Swimming Pools

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend, West of 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1617-18W, on swimming pools, how many of the pools in each category in the table are or were in the  (a) public and  (b) private sector; and how many swimming pools there are in England.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Active Places database shows that there are currently 4,614 swimming pools in England.
	
		
			  Pools opened since 2004 by ownership type 
			   Total  Local authority  Commercial  Education  Other 
			 2004 117 17 73 25 2 
			 2005 93 18 57 16 2 
			 2006 87 20 55 11 1 
			 2007 57 19 22 14 2 
			 Total 354 74 207 66 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Pools closed since 2004 by ownership type 
			   Total  Local authority  Commercial  Education  Others 
			 2004 13 5 4 4 0 
			 2005 60 32 15 11 2 
			 2006 58 23 12 21 2 
			 2007 33 9 12 12 0 
			 Total 164 69 43 48 4

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on  (a) alcohol and  (b) entertaining in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: It is not possible to list the amount spent on alcohol in the last 12 months without incurring disproportionate costs as they are not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts.
	Entertainment costs for the last financial year can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Entertainment costs (£) 
			 Former DCA 30,657.37 
			 HMCS 20,240.27 
			 Tribunals 1,653.70 
			 OCJR 35,156.29 
		
	
	NOMS, HMPS, and OPG cannot separately identify entertainment costs from their accounts. These costs may be identified only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure on alcohol and hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety that are based on the principles set out in Government Accounting and supported by the Department's published internal guidance.
	All expenditure, including that on hospitality, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last three years.

Bridget Prentice: The requested figures are in the following table.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice' Agencies staff over 55 years of age, headcount over the past three financial years 
			  Headcount 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 3) 
			  Ministry of Justice' Headquarters
			 Former Department for Constitutional Affairs (excl. agencies)(1) 10 10 12 
			 
			  Ministry of Justice' Agencies
			 HM Courts Service(1) 110 170 118 
			 Office of the Public Guardian(1) 0 0 3 
			 Tribunals Service(1) 0 0 0 
			 Office of Criminal Justice Reform(1) 0 0 1 
			 National Offender Management Service(1) 0 9 3 
			 HM Prison Service(2) 340 270 270 
			 Ministry of Justice total 460 459 407 
			 (1 )Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.  (2) Source: Personnel Corporate Database and Oracle HRMS.  (3) 2006-07 figures by age breakdown are from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey where available. For those Departments and agencies who completed a departmental return and an age analysis from the Survey is not available, figures are derived from the Personnel Corporate Database.

Departmental Reorganisation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken through the reorganisation of his Department to remove duplication of responsibilities.

David Hanson: In the written ministerial statement of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 8WS, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) announced changes to the high level structure for the Department, which would allow a more joined up approach to issues of justice and constitutional reform and with a clearer focus on efficiency through the removal of duplication and overlapping responsibilities. Departmental officials are currently working on the detail of these changes before the top structure comes into effect on 1 April.

National Identity

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has budgeted for the proposed Citizens' summit on a British statement of values; and when this summit will take place.

Jack Straw: We are currently working in partnership with the Central Office of Information (COI) on the tender process for the Citizens' Summit, which will determine the budget. We expect the Summit to take place by early 2009.

Public Bodies: Debt Collection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance has been given to public authorities on the use of bailiffs to collect civil debts owed to public authorities by individuals.

Maria Eagle: In April 2002 the leaflet 'Effective Enforcement—National Standards for Enforcement Agents' was produced with the assistance of and endorsed by industry and government, including local authorities. The guidance is not legally binding; rather it sets out what the Department, those in the industry and some major users including creditor groups regard as a benchmark for professional standards within enforcement.

Public General Acts: Administration of Justice

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Acts of Parliament which relate either wholly or partly to criminal justice and which have arisen from legislative proposals brought forward by his Department or its predecessors have been passed since May 1997; and which new criminal offences have been created by such legislation in the last five years.

Jack Straw: Table 1 list Acts of Parliament that are currently wholly the responsibility of my Department or where my Department has a significant share. Table 2 lists such criminal offences created by these Acts in the last five years. I apologise to the right hon. Member for the delay in replying, but preparation of the answer has involved considerable work.
	 Table 1
	Access to Justice 1999
	Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
	Courts Act 2003
	Crime and Disorder Act 1998
	Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Act 1999
	Criminal Defence Service Act 2001
	Criminal Defence Service Act 2006
	Criminal Justice Act 2003
	Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000
	Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
	Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
	Fraud Act 2006
	Legal Services Act 2007
	Magistrates' Courts Procedures Act 1998
	Offender Management Act 2007
	Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
	Serious Crime Act 2007
	Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
	Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Part 1 only)
	Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
	Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999
	 Table 2
	
		
			  Act of Parliament  Offence(s) created 
			 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 Manslaughter by an organisation caused by gross failure of the organisation's management or organisation. 
			 Courts Act 2003 Assaulting or obstructing court security officers. 
			 Criminal Justice Act 2003 Reporting facts relating to appeals or re-trials in contravention of reporting restrictions or publishing facts which might prejudice a retrial in contravention of a court order. 
			 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Breaching a non-molestation order, and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult. 
			 Fraud Act 2006 See Annex A. 
			 Legal Services Act 2007 Carrying on a reserved legal activity if not entitled, or through a person not entitled; and pretending to be entitled to carry out a reserved legal activity. 
			 Serious Crime Act 2007 Assisting and encouraging crime. 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 See Annex B, which covers the offences in Part 1 of the Act. 
			 Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Unauthorised use or disclosure of debtor information. 
		
	
	 Annex A
	Fraud (s.1)
	Possession etc. of articles for use in frauds (s.6)
	Making or supplying articles for use in frauds (s.7)
	Participating in fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader etc.(s.9)
	Obtaining services dishonestly (s.11)
	 Annex B
	Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent (s.4)
	Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (s.10)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child(s.11)
	Causing a child to watch a sexual act (s.12)
	Child sex offences committed by children or young persons (s.13)
	Arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence (s.14)
	Meeting a child following sexual grooming etc (s.15)
	Abuse of a position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (s.17)
	Abuse of a position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child (s.18)
	Abuse of a position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act (s.19)
	Inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity (s.26)
	Causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity (s.31)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, (s.32)
	Causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, to watch a sexual act (s.33)
	Inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder (s.34)
	Causing a person with a mental disorder to engage in sexual activity by inducement, threat or deception (s.35)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence, procured by inducement, threat or deception of a person with a mental disorder (s.36)
	Causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act, by inducement, threat or deception (s.37)
	Care workers: causing or inciting sexual activity (s.39)
	Care workers: sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder (s.40)
	Care workers: causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act (s.41)
	Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation (s.57)
	Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation (s.58)
	Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation (s.59)
	Sexual penetration of a corpse (s.70)
	Sexual activity in a public lavatory (s.71)

Apprentices

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many (a) 16 and (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had A*-C GCSEs in mathematics, English, a science and a modern language in each year for which data is available;
	(2)  how many  (a) 16 and  (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had A*-C GCSEs in mathematics, English and a science in each year for which data is available;
	(3)  how many  (a) 16 and  (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had an A*-C GCSE in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) English and mathematics in each year for which data is available.

Jim Knight: A combined response to PQs 192042, 192043 and 192044 is presented here due to the similarity of the questions and data availability. The following figures are from matched administrative data which links together participation and attainment data at an individual level from several administrative data sources. The table shows participation in apprenticeships by achievement of GGSE (or equivalent) in English and mathematics at grades A* to C. We do not have data for modern languages or science. Figures relate to England only.
	
		
			  GCSE  Percentage GCSE 
			  Cohort  Academic age  Main study aim  Total participating  English A*-C  Maths A*C  English and Maths A*-C  English A*-C  Maths A*-C  English and Maths A*-C 
			 19 in 2007 16 Apprenticeship 28,862 8,240 5,934 4,027 28.5 20.6 14.0 
			  16 Advanced Apprenticeship 4,468 1,921 1,977 1,351 43.0 44.2 30.2 
			  17 Apprenticeship 40,651 12,510 9,242 6,414 30.8 22.7 15.8 
			  17 Advanced Apprenticeship 9,089 4,478 4,250 3,126 49.3 46.8 34.4 
			   
			 19 in 2008 16 Apprenticeship 28,699 8,583 6,787 4,551 29.9 23.6 15.9 
			  16 Advanced Apprenticeship 2,898 1,632 1,692 1,289 56,3 58.4 44.5 
			  17 Apprenticeship 41,407 13,192 10,562 7,162 31.9 25.5 17.3 
			  17 Advanced Apprenticeship 7,003 4,224 4,088 3,251 60.3 58.4 46.4 
			  Note: The participation data has coverage limitations in the dataset, and information is not available for certain groups of learners, such as those in independent schools and higher education institutes (although we do have their attainment data). It is not used for published participation statistics, but can be used for indicative purposes (albeit with caveats applied on coverage). Figures for the '19 in 2008 cohort' refer to those learners who turn 19 in 2007/08. This is the latest cohort of learners in the matched dataset for whom we have data for 16 and 17-year-olds (academic ages, from 2005/06 and 2006/07, respectively). Participation in the matched administrative dataset is limited to the cohorts shown above.

Children: Asylum

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what sources of funding are available for the provision of English language and life skills to unaccompanied minors who are seeking asylum  (a) up to the age of 16 years and  (b) after they are 18-years-old; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: All unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) of compulsory school age receive the same educational entitlement as citizen children. All unaccompanied minors are cared for by the local authorities and therefore have the same entitlement as all looked-after children. Unaccompanied asylum seekers aged 16-18 are eligible for courses funded by the Learning and Skills Council. Asylum seekers who have not received a decision on their application after six months and are aged 19 and over are eligible for English for speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This also applies to asylum seekers who are unable to leave the country for reasons beyond their control.
	My Department provides funding to local authorities to support provision for whom English is an additional language (EAL) and pupils from minority ethnic groups at risk of underachieving through:
	a substantial provision for EAL through the ring fenced Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), which has risen from £162 million in 2004-05 to £179 million in 2007-08 and will rise to £208 million by 2010-11?a 9 per cent. increase on the 2004-05 level;
	an element within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for primary schools which was some £256 million in 2004-05, rising to £299 million in 2007-08, with a further rise to over £330 million in 2010-11?an 11 per cent. real terms increase on the 2004-05 level;
	an Exceptional Circumstances Grant (ECG) which has been introduced to reflect changes in local authorities' pupil numbers which occur after the three year indicative allocations of DSG have been announced.

Class Sizes: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average pupil/teacher ratio was in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of teaching assistants who left posts in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the pupil:teacher ratio in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency and England in each January, 2003 to 2007.
	Information on the number of teaching assistants who left their posts each year is not collected centrally. Figures from the School Census shows that there were 230 teaching assistants in service in Eastbourne constituency in January 2003 and there were 250 in January 2007.
	The new School Workforce Census, which is expected to be in place in 2010, will provide more detailed information on the inflow and outflow of teaching assistants.
	
		
			  Pupil:teacher ratios in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools, years: January 2003 to 2007—coverage: Eastbourne constituency and England 
			   Eastbourne constituency  England 
			  January  Primary  Secondary  Primary  Secondary 
			 2003 22.0 16.9 22.6 17.0 
			 2004 22.6 17.5 227 17.0 
			 2005 22.6 17.8 22.5 16.7 
			 2006 23.2 17.8 22.0 16.6 
			 2007 23.6 18.0 21.8 16.5 
			  Source:  School Census

Further Education: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils aged 16 to 18 years have been educated in  (a) further education colleges and  (b) sixth-form colleges in the East of England in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Knight: Figures for learners aged 16 to 18 participating in further education (FE) programmes in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) individualised learner record (ILR), The FE ILR was collated for the first time in 2002/03 and figures are given from that time.
	
		
			  16 to 18 learner numbers in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges in the East of England by local authorit y 
			  Thousand 
			   2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			  Bedfordshire  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 3.6 3.8 3.9 4.6 4.7 
			 Sixth-form college 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			   
			  Luton  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.0 
			 Sixth-form college 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.8 
			   
			  Cambridgeshire  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 4.9 5.3 5.7 6.2 6.5 
			 Sixth-form college 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.6 
			   
			  Peterborough  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.1 
			 Sixth-form college 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			   
			  Essex  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 11.1 10.8 11.4 12.6 12.9 
			 Sixth-form college 3.4 4.0 4.1 4.4 4.5 
			   
			  Southend on Sea  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.5 
			 Sixth-form college 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			   
			  Thurrock  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 2.5 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 
			 Sixth-form college 0.0 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.6 
			   
			  Hertfordshire  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 8.4 8.4 8.9 9.1 9.5 
			 Sixth-form college 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			   
			  Norfolk  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 7.0 6.9 7.4 7.5 7.6 
			 Sixth-form college 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8 
			   
			  Suffolk  
			 General FE arid tertiary college 5.0 5.3 5.8 6.1 6.1 
			 Sixth-form college 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7

Gifted Children: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in the gifted and talented programme did not gain level five or above at key stage three tests in 2007.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number and proportion of students in maintained schools identified as gifted and talented who did not achieve level 5 or above in key stage 3 tests in English, mathematics and science in 2007. It also gives comparable figures for those pupils who were not identified as gifted and talented,
	Secondary schools are asked to identify all pupils meeting the published eligibility criteria for the top 5 per cent. of pupils nationally and are free to identify other pupils who they judge to be gifted and talented relative to their year group in their school. Decisions are based on ability rather than attainment and will include pupils with practical talents in sports, arts and other fields.
	
		
			  Key stage 3 2007  Gifted and talented  Not identified as G&T 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 English 2,511 3.1 116,635 23.7 
			 Mathematics 2,176 2.7 114,224 23.2 
			 Science 2,968 3.7 129,782 26.4

Gifted Children: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people resident in Wirral, West constituency belong to the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

Jim Knight: The National Academy for Gifted and Talented was replaced by the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils in September 2007.
	The Department does not hold information specifically about the number of pupils who are registered with the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils resident in any given area. However, the Department does collect information about pupils who are identified by their school as being within the school's gifted and talented population. Some of these pupils are also registered with the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils. Information about the number of young people resident in Wirral, West identified as being within their schools gifted and talented population is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Pupils aged 5 to 15 resident in Wirral, West, 2007 
			   Resident pupils 
			 Number of resident pupils 8,446 
			 Number of resident pupils identified as gifted and talented(1) 1,123 
			 % of resident pupils identified as gifted and talented(1) 13.3 
			 (1) all pupils who: (i) have been registered as members of the student academy of the former National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) on the basis of the NAGTY eligibility criteria at: http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/FileLinks/191_NAGTYeligibility_criteria.pdf; or  (ii) have not been registered as members of the former NAGTY student academy but nevertheless are judged by the school to meet the NAGTY eligibility criteria; and all pupils that, while they may not meet the NAGTY eligibility criteria, have been identified by the school as gifted and talented because their ability is developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group within that school, or because they have the potential to develop such ability.  Source:  School Census 2007

Primary Education: Admissions

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary school places there  (a) were in 2007-08 and  (b) have been in Bournemouth in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The available information is provided in the table. Data for 1997 is not available as Bournemouth was part of Dorset local authority.
	Information on the number school places is not collected centrally. Therefore information on the number of pupils on roll in primary schools has been provided.
	
		
			   Number (headcount) of primary school pupils in Bournemouth LA 
			 1998 11,546 
			 1999 11,563 
			 2000 11,554 
			 2001 11,449 
			 2002 11,226 
			 2003 11,150 
			 2004 10,980 
			 2005 10,755 
			 2006 10,492 
			 2007 10,360 
			  Source: Schools Census

Primary Education: Transport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of primary school children who travel  (a) to and  (b) from school by (i) car, (ii) public transport, (iii) walking, (iv) cycling and (v) school-organised bus transport.

Jim Knight: Home to school mode of travel data was collected at pupil level for the first time in the 2007 schools census, but is only compulsory for schools with an approved School Travel Plan in place. According to the most recent available figures; 14,063 schools in England have approved travel plans. Mode of travel data does not distinguish between "home to school" and "school to home" journeys. The following table shows the percentage and mode of travel for primary pupils in England, derived from the 2007 schools census.
	
		
			  Mode of travel  Percentage of primary pupils 
			 Car (includes car share, van and taxi) 40.5 
			 Public transport (including school organised bus transport) 3.5 
			 Walking 54.9 
			 Cycling 1.1

Primary Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers,  (b) non-teaching assistants and  (c) support staff there were in York primary schools (i) in total and (ii) per pupil in (A) 1996-97 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non teaching assistants and other support staff in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools in York local authority and England in January 1997 and 2007. The pupil:staff ratio for each of these groups is also provided.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non teaching assistants, other support staff pupil:teacher ratio (PTR) and pupil:staff ratios (PSR) in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools—coverage: York local authority and England 
			  Years: January 1997 and 2007 
			   1997  2007 
			   York  England  York  England 
			   Teacher  PSR/P TR  Teacher  PSR/P TR  Teacher  PSR/P TR  PSR/P Teacher  PSR/P TR 
			 Regular teachers(1,2) 630 24.3 191,670 23.4 650 21.7 197,100 21.8 
			  
			 Teaching assistants(3) 90 156.7 41,870 102.7 330 38.7 105,770 37.8 
			 Teaching assistants 60 222.4 24,300 177.0 270 47.3 77,570 51.6 
			 Non teaching assistants(4) 30 531.9 17,570 259.1 60 217.3 28,210 154.1 
			  
			 Other support staff(3,5) 70 213.2 33,870 127.0 90 134.7 57,370 697 
			 (1) Source: Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618 g except PTR/PSR which is derived from School Census. (2) Excludes occasionals. (3) Source: School Census. (4) Includes special needs support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff. (5) Excludes teaching assistants.  Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10.

Religious Freedom

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what response he plans to make to paragraphs 69 and 70 of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief's report of her mission to the UK (A/HRC/7/10/Add.3).

Jim Knight: The Government welcome the publication of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on religion or belief. We have noted the contents of the report and welcome the positive statements about freedom of religion or belief in the UK.
	In respect of paragraph 69, the Government remain committed to the promotion and protection of human rights including respect for, and acceptance of, pluralism and diversity. The non-statutory framework for religious education places inclusion, tolerance, diversity and interfaith dialogue at the heart of children's learning. Each locally agreed syllabus must take into account not only Christianity but the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in the country. The membership of a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education, as set out in law, should comprise representatives of Christian denominations and other religions which reflect the principal religious traditions in the area, as well as representatives of teaching unions and of the local authority.
	In relation to paragraph 70 of the report, every parent has the right to withdraw their child from all or any part of religious education and/or collective worship, Since September 2007, sixth form pupils have had the right to opt-out of collective worship without parental consent. We believe it is reasonable to limit this right to collective worship and to those above compulsory school age.

Schools: Facilities

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recommendations there are under the Building Schools for the Future programme on changing facilities, with particular reference to the number of year groups utilising the facilities at any one time.

Jim Knight: The BSF programme guidance does not make specific recommendations for this provision. Its aim is to raise the standard of educational attainment through the development of school buildings fit for 21(st )Century teaching and learning. The BSF programme, which is largely administered by local authorities, does however, use a number of publications to advise schools and building professionals on the details of the building brief. In the case of changing facilities those documents would be BB98 and the School Premises Regulations (SPR's).
	BB98 states
	'The total area of total and personal care facilities.... must include:
	........changing rooms with showers, near to indoor and outdoor sports provision......
	The location and design of toilet and changing room facilities should balance the demands for both privacy and adequate supervision.
	Normally it is sufficient to provide changing facilities for half a year group with equal and separate facilities for boys and girls in co-educational schools and further changing rooms for the sixth form. Showers should generally be in the form of separate cubicles, with approximately one for every six or seven pupils changing. In addition, at least one accessible changing area (with a sanitary fitting, wash basin and shower) should be provided in each changing area.'
	BB98 has drawn some of its information from a Sports England guidance note on the design of sports Halls, although this does not make reference specifically to schools.
	The School Premises Regulations state that
	'.....Changing accommodation including showers shall be provided for pupils who have attained the age of 11 years and who are in receipt of physical education and that accommodation shall be readily accessible from the school grounds and from any accommodation provided for physical education within the school buildings'.

Teachers: Crimes of Violence

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers were physically assaulted by  (a) pupils,  (b) parents and  (c) other persons in each of the last five years, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: Data are not collected centrally on the number of teachers who have been subject to physical assault.
	The Department does collect information on the number of exclusions from schools which occur following assault on an adult, this was collected for the first time for 2004/05. Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions due to assault against an adult, broken down by local education authority, and covering primary and secondary and special schools for 2004/05 has been placed in the House of Commons Library. In 2005/06 information is available for secondary schools only; this has also been placed in the Library.

Teachers: Ex-servicemen

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will consider introducing specific measures to attract veterans leaving the armed forces into a career in teaching.

Jim Knight: We are already working on a number of measures to encourage service leavers to enter a teaching career.
	We have been working with the Ministry of Defence on ways to encourage more service leavers to take up a career in secondary level specialist teaching in science, mathematics and ICT subjects. In addition to promoting existing opportunities for individuals to consider teaching through the MOD's Career Transition Partnership, we have also announced our intention to establish a new programme called Transition to Teaching in the Children's Plan, This will be a collaboration between employers and the Training and Development Agency for Schools to encourage people who are leaving employment, including service leavers, in scientific, technological or mathematical fields to consider training to become teachers of mathematics, science or ICT.
	In addition, we are currently investigating possible ways of helping service leavers without degrees to gain degrees while they train to become teachers. Proposals are currently at a very early stage and we will announce further details as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Teachers: Qualifications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers were without qualified teacher status teaching in schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) employed in local authority maintained schools in England in each January, 1997 to 2007.
	Full-time equivalent teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) in service in the local authority maintained sector in England: January of each year.
	
		
			  January  Overseas trained teachers and instructors without QTS  Teachers on employment based routes to QTS( 1)  Total 
			 1997 2,480 460 2,940 
			 1998 2,640 570 3,210 
			 1999 3,070 470 3,540 
			 2000 3,240 580 3,820 
			 2001 4,340 1,280 5,620 
			 2002 8,140 3,320 11,460 
			 2003 11,030 4,200 15,230 
			 2004 11,610 6,040 17,640 
			 2005 12,150 6,430 18,570 
			 2006 11,810 6,100 17,910 
			 2007 10,970 5,740 16,710 
			 (1) Those on the Graduate Teacher programme, the Registered Teachers programme, the Overseas Trained Teachers programme or the Teach First scheme).  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10  Source:  Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618g

Trust Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools became trust schools in each year for which the data is available.

Jim Knight: 30 schools became trust schools in September 2007—the first to acquire trust schools status. As of 29 February 2008, 37 trust schools were operational.
	The regulations of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 governing trust schools came into force in May 2007 and according to our records there were no trust schools set up under that legislation before August 2007.

Work Experience

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is towards supporting summer internships by  (a) school children and  (b) school leavers.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not have a specific policy about summer internships by school children, or school leavers. There is, however, a statutory requirement for schools to provide work-related learning for 14 to 16-year-olds. From September 2008 we are also introducing new Diplomas for 14-19s which cover a wide range of business sectors. Work related learning includes work experience placements which can be organised flexibly and which prepare young people for adult and working life. Additionally, many young people have access to summer schools as part of the Aimhigher and City Challenge programmes.

Young People: Unemployment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of  (a) 16,  (b) 17 and  (c) 18 year olds not in full-time education or training, broken down by local education authority area in the East of England.

Jim Knight: Estimates of participation in education, training and employment in England for those aged 16-18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June (see following link, this also includes local participation estimates, but only for 16 and 17-year-olds).
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000734/index.shtml
	The Department also publishes local estimates of participation in England alongside the national figures, but these are only available for young people of academic age 16 and 17. The local participation estimates cover those in full-time education, part-time education, and Work Based Learning, but do not identify young people in employer funded training(1) or other education and training(2) apart from those on a part-time education course. This means that young people on such training will be included in the "not in education or Work Based Learning" figure.
	(1) Employer funded training covers employees who have received training in the past four weeks, other than those in Work Based Learning.
	(2) Other education and training covers young people who are studying but are not included in other categories. For example those attending independent colleges or training centres, or those at any college in part-time study not reported as released from job.
	The most recent local estimates for local authorities in the East of England region relate to the end of 2005, and are shown in the following table. The equivalent national estimates, calculated on the same basis, are also shown for comparison.
	
		
			  Proportion of young people not in education or Work Based Learning by academic age, end 2005 
			   Percentage  Number( 1) 
			   16  year  olds  17  year  olds  16 and 17  year olds  16  year olds  17  year  olds  16 and 17  year  olds 
			 East of England Government office region 14 25 19 9,700 17,800 27,500 
			
			  Local authorities   
			 Bedfordshire(2) 11 20 16 900 1,700 2,600 
			 Bedfordshire(3) 11 19 15 600 1,000 1,600 
			 Luton(3) 12 22 17 300 600 900 
			 Cambridgeshire(2) 11 26 19 1,000 2,600 3,700 
			 Cambridgeshire(3) 11 25 18 800 2,000 2,700 
			 Peterborough(3) 13 29 21 300 600 900 
			 Essex(2) 17 29 23 3,700 6,200 9,900 
			 Essex(3) 17 28 22 2,900 4,900 7,800 
			 Southend-on-Sea(3) 18 27 22 300 600 900 
			 Thurrock(3) 21 38 30 400 800 1,200 
			 Hertfordshire(2) 8 17 13 1,200 2,300 3,500 
			 Norfolk(2) 15 27 21 1,500 2,700 4,200 
			 Suffolk(2) 16 25 20 1,400 2,200 3,700 
			
			 England 14 24 19 91,900 160,800 252,700 
			 (1) Numbers may not add because of independent rounding. (2) 'Upper tier authorities' (eg Bedfordshire) (3) 'Lower tier authorities' (eg Bedfordshire)  Note: The lower tier areas combine to form the upper tier authorities